The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-15

s,.As ~O y WIG o41 %, 1OIty Lew Uc0kst 0u0 90
hHTled with such force against the masonry of
the abutment that it was smashed into frag-
ments. 1t was in this car, which bore the
brunt OF the shock, that the greatest number of
casualties took place; the next car. No. so, also
dashed against the abutment, passing partially
underneath ana partially through the car in
advance of it, and the fearful sensation of such
plunge in the midst Of ones quiet read
ing OF lis newspaper on his way into
town were felt by such of the passengers on
this car as had consciousness enough left to be
aware Of anything. The shock left it very
badly smashed but enough of it was there to
reveal the old-fashioned cast-iron stove standing
bolt upright untouched and intact Here, as
elsewhere in the train, there were traces left by
the dreadful work of the collision in splashes of
blood upon the seats and sides. Still another
car, whose number was undistinguishable, fol
lowed this; and directly behind this car came
TO. ii, another old fashioned car, which escaped
with less damage than any other that went
through the bridge. broken central truss of the
structure serving the purpose of pinning it in
an upright position. Then came car No. 82,
which the crash left upon its side. thoroughly
smashed, and at the end the smoking-car, which,
by most extraordinary wrench. was turned ex-
actly bottom side up, and left lying upon its
roof
In the roadway under the bridge, in the open
space of hundred and fifty feet between
aoutment and abutment, there were, in an in
slant, piled up the debris of six cars, inter-
woven almost inextricably with the trusses and
girders of the iron bridge, and within and
among which the passengers were held fast or
writhing In agony, some of them crushed al
most beyond recognition of the human shape,
and one or two of them beheaded. To such as
had power to move the means of extrication
were made the easier by the completeness Of
the wreck. for the sides and ends of the cars
were mashed out, leaving more or less free
egress. But in the two cars which struck the
s5utment the scene was fearful The
wood and debris was piled up about
one Of the stoves, and was on
the very point Of setting the wreck on
those who had already succeeded in extricatine
themselves unhurt managed to drag the stove
out through the broken walls of the car. and
deposit it on the roadway. None of the other
stoves were smashed sufficiently to ignite the
wreck with their burning contents and the work
OF extrica:ing the dead and wounded was begun.
Superintendent Folsom caused several physi
clans from Boston to be sent out, and Abner
Alden, station agent at Dedham. had notified the
physicians there. all of whom respende d L ne
ately Ambulances were also dispatche from the
Massachusetts General and the City hospitals
with corps of surgeons, who were enabled to
render valuable assistanc to the wounded. The
news reached police headquarters thin half ar
hour after the accident. and Depafy Snperis,
tendent Barrill, after giving order, fer a largo
detail of officers from the nearest stations -
port to him. started for the scene of the disaster
and reached there about $50 o'clock. Never was
so sad a duty more expeditiously and thorough
~ performed The dead and injured were
quickly taken ont, and never was a railroad
wreck, where there had been large loss of life,
moro promptly deserted by all who had suffered
The fact that the accident occurred in the
sXdst of settled suburb and district ,s~d that
nobody upon the train was more than FIVE miles
away from home, made it possible to transport
the dead and injured, far as it was practi
cable under the circumstances.